Pneumatic spring assembly



Feb. 16, 1960 Filed March 19, 1958 E. NASSIMBENE PNEUMATIC SPRING ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheefl mmvmx. ERNEST massmazus 1960 E. NASSIMBENE I 2,925,265

PNEUMATIC SPRING ASSEMBLY Filed March 19,- 1958 2 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ERNEST NASSIMBENE e The present invention has-relationgto-a vehicle suspen- 15 become more apparentto ;thoseski11ed;in the fart fromthef following descriptionfo'f a preferred embodiment-.ofrqthe" I invention taken togethen withithe' drawings,-..in-which::

' vFigurelgis a fragmentary;perspective'viewof aportion -of amear wheel andrvaxleias'semblyof a vehicle,iillustr.t-- ing in particulan a;pne1irr'1atic.s1 rihg assembly in mounted 1 position on rthc'ivehicleyr sion system of the class wherein pneumaticspring; or bellows type, assetnhliesiare. employedl in the system to serve as load regnlato1 s.;and vibrationalabsorbers between the axle of the/vehicle and'the'chassis; I

matic spring assemblies Qfler-r any advantages not found in the conventional steeltspring assemblies, At the same time, many, difiiculties ar e; encountered in the design and construction oiEthe pneumatic spring; 3 As -an example,

increesed life, and consjstenttperiorrnance in accord; with 25 qr gma -rc a cter t sraxe x' p t t; ons dem-l o 1 h i hr pas az n rcmr a vi controlz closelythe ridng end levelin ggcharacteristics of the. spring;

r, system-exhibiting consistenti andweasily controllble riding and leveling. characteristics 1 throughout: the operational r As is 1 well v known iin; thegvehi'cle 2 suspension 7 art, 5 nu 7 20 present inv'entionrand i .7 i Figure-,3 is a:detailed',:;vertical:section-yiew illustrating thei construction fof :a preferred forum of; diaphragm mem-a S ber,conformableiontuseain ,cfpneumatiaspringlasserxibly;y

i he presefit'iny nti f v r1v s or bolts .-=It is a'furtherobject to provide for a spring assembly conformable for use in :convntio'nal vehicle :pnurhatic I suspension systemsoccupying.a"minimum= mount'oi- V space; "easily v'andfaccurately controllable in? design; and which will operate to provide miiiimumwchri and balance;

qualitics'desiredfin'a vehicle suspension system; ,5:

, It is. still afurther:-,object to provide foraan improved "and. simplified pneumatic. spring; assembly construction which insures greatly increased reliebilityand consistency infoperation .Othervand furtherobjects' of ;the:present invention will:

; Figure 2 is a; vertical :hsection the. spring as'sembly shownin-"Figure-1rillustrating the relativegdise position and location ofparts in accordance with the le;and heel ,assernblyz poin tghf httachnlent to ng assembly Loft; the present: 2 l rc'in' pringassegibly V ,rcomprised ofcar z ineage-mm Iengfigenientm r post 12 and the diaphragm 26, as loads are transmitted thereto; This may be accomplished by means of a suita-, ble :regulator valve (not shown) connected into the supply line, together with another suitable valve, comrnonly termed a leveling valve (also not shown), in line 27 which serves to control automatically the riding height ofthe vehicle'at all times. For example, as the pressure within the container is increased undera constant load, the container 14 will of course tend'to move gradually upwardly with respect to the centering post. and the diaphragm member so as to raise the entirev vehicle with respect to the axle housing and wheel assembly.

An important consideration in the construction of the assembly is a way of properly securing the diaphragm to the centering post and to the container 14. With this in mind, the centering post 12 is given a leading or terminal end 28 of reduced diameter, extending into a ledge or shoulder portion 29 which in turn curves into afrusto-conical section 30 having an upper inclined side 31 and a lower inclined side 31' followed by a cylindrical section 32 extending downwardly to the point of connection of the post to the trailing arm 13. The container 14 is mounted to the frame in centered position over the post, and is comprised of a generally cylindrical body portion 34 which is given a slight downward taper, and a ledge or shoulder 35 extending laterally and inwardly from the end of the body portion of the container. Forming a downward extension of the container from the open end thereof is a skirt 36 having a tapered section 37 and an outwardly flared section 38.

Both the centering post 12 and the container 14 may be formed of any suitablezmaterial, but are preferably madeof a metal, such as, steel. In addition, the, centering post maybe either hollow or solid, depending upon the amount of theloads 'to be transmitted therethrough and of coursethe material used in its construction.

As shown in Figure 2 and in-more detailed form in Figure 3, the generally cylindricaldiaphragm member 26 isiprovided with enlarged or thickened ends includseleetively controlling the pressure of the air' within the container, it is thereby possible to control, in turn, the extent of movement of the centering ing -'a collar 40 located at the innermost edge of the diaphragm, and a rim 41 forming theouter periphery of the diaphragm. Disposed between the collar 40 and the rim 41 is a flexible body or membrane portion made up of inner and outer inclined wall sections 42' and 43 which extend downwardly in a common'direction from the collar and the rim, respectively. The inclined wall sections 42 and 43 are terminated in relatively near, free end portions 42 and 43', at which point they are loose ly connected by means of a ,circurnferentially extending lobe or roll 44 ofa generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration.

"In'order to obtain a tight, secure connection between the diaphragm" 26 and the-centering post 12 and conface-of thecontainer adjacent the open end thereof. fln

the latter, it has been found that the taper given to the obtaining a secure connection;

body portion 34 of the container 14 materially aids in ventionf Y l i In forming the'diaphragm 26 itmay either be molded face of the leading end 28 is of generally saw-toothed configuration and-defines a series of vertically spaced grooves 28' to receive and mate with the teeth '45. In this way, the shoulder portion 29, together with the grooved leading end 28 will securely hold the collar 40 in position under normal riding conditions. :More important,-however, as the air spring is moved to a position of maximum rebound, theunrolling of the 'body portion of the diaphragm will'ten'd to stretch the lower wrap of wire forming the elastic spring which will,.in turn, tend to tighten the wrap above it, and as each succeeding wrap of wire is stretched, the remaining wraps, or segments of the spring will become increasingly tightened so as to lock the teeth 45 against the collar even more securely. H I

The rim 41 may also be formed in the same general manner as the collar 40, and as shown, is given a single lip 47 extending laterally and outwardly from the upper exterior surface of the rim for engagement with the side of the container 14. Also, in place of the continuous strand 46, an endless band or fiat ring 48 may be embedded in the enlarged end portion forming the rim 41 which is given an elastic force tending to urge the lip and entire rim outwardly into secure engagement with the container 14 and shoulder 35. It will therefore be evident that as the post is moved inwardly in compres sion, an inward movement of the lower part of the endless band 48 would tend to urge the upper portion of the band outwardly so as to secure" greater locking engagement of the rim including the lip 47 with the side of the container. It is also preferred to give the lip 47 a very slight curvature on its-underside so that as it is 'urged against the side of the container it-will tend to fiatten'completely, thuseliminating any wave and assuring a-tight fit with the container 14. Thus the endless band will operate effectively to establish'the necessary outward force against the rim to obtain a secure and tight seal. On the other hand, the continuous strand of wire 46 is much more'etfective than anendless band in securing adequate engagement and scaling power'of the collar 40 with the-leading end 28. In fact it.has

been-found suflicie'nt to utilize the tooth edges 45 alone some predetermined angle to the longitudinal axisof the. In this; connection, the tendency of the.

diaphragm. diaphragm to grow. or lengthen inoperation may be materially reduced by proper cord treatment and regulation'of 'this"angl e, although such may vary for each diaphragm and does not form a part of the present into shape, as shown vin Figure 3, or maybe molded in conical form followed by folding the rim 41 and, in-

. clined wall, 43 back over the inner. portion of the.dia-

' In order tol preventany tendency of theldiaphragm I member '26to1be shifted or disengaged in the course of movement of'the'centerihg post '12, a unique manner, of t seicuring the 'collariandirimjto the post and container,

' respectively, isprovided. 'As".shown,ithe' collar 40. ,is I given; a number of upwardly disposed, vertically spaced I teeth .o'rflip portions ,45 for engaging the leading end 28 df. tl1efpost ,also, a continuous strand '46, preferably] ca'bledfst'eel wirejinay either be-wrapped around or, is preferably embedded 'in, thev collar 40 ',sol as a to. define anlelastir': 'orz resilie nt spring forcing the lip tdgtightly against the leading end. Inaddit'ion, the exteriorsup;

phragrn to form the shape substantially as shown. The

elastomericgor rubberlike tmaterial utilized in the dia-.

used in the; although a neoprene or Butyl rubber composition ;ha s b een found; particularly suitable.

- An important feature of the pneumatic spring assembly of the presentinverition is the relative proportion and arrangement'fof and between thejpartsconsisting of'the lower conical section-islflftheoutwardly flared section 38 and theenlargedjlobe 44. Y previously mentioned, the

reaction force appliedfa'gainst thetcentering post' ast it ist s sai ?wam s 1 3 32 hi -mew ,determinedby M p c1114., *Oficours'e, thereac on'forc ;w 1,9180, e afunc tion'of; I

z fi taa asyernhichthen cssur ii i'cqntainer section, Zi d mater al y, v 323 1 1 1 45{I HEYPQ511991 1h? '1h S$.=P 1 1' 'p d.to m o fliaph as 6; w ve izapp i di sa a ti he; centering:p aan if i f phragm only; the effective area being: defined "by aYgenerally circular area having' a -projectddiametenD. The '7 diameter D.maytbe:determinedfor each position 'df the centering postv 12-by measuring the sdistancebetween diametrically 'opposed :points on a center line extending through the midpoint M bfthe diaphragm. Thus, as the centering post 12 movesupwardly incompression it is to be noted thatjth'e projected diameter D maybeftdecreasedjgradu'ally s o 't hat, notwithstanding the increase; in pressure; the 'containerfthejeffectivearea through which it is'applied-may-bereduced to an extent 'either th iig to maintain a constant force orevento'reduce'thetfec f ing the walls of the skirt and the side: "'The inclined tive force, However, in'the absence of any means to sections would thenhave a length suificient to contact control the projected diameter D this diameter will have the 'sides of the lobe under maximum compression and a tendency'to shift generally outwardly, due to lengthenrebound. Therefore, the length of the inclined sections ing of the diaphragm and since in conventional construc would belargely dictated by the size of the lobe neces-' tion the centeringtpost-or piston will usually prevent insary in forming the flexible portion of the diaphragm. ward expansion of the roll or l obe portion 44. In any 'Of course, in my preferred formof invention as shown I event, without proper controlling means, growth or in FigureZ, the'upper incline'd'sides 31 and 37 may be. I lengthening of the diaphragm may materiallyalter the utilized to cooperate with the lower inclined sides 31' i projected diameter so that proper control of 'the' efiecand 38 as the diaphragm is moved in compression and tive area may be impossible. Furthermore, since the exrebound, as shown dotted in Figure 2. Thus, in comtent ofgrowth cannot be predicted;:as the diaphragm pression, the sides of the lobe will engage the lower lengthens, it will have a different diameter D for each conical section 31 and upper inclined side 37; in rerespective position to which the centering posteis moved bound the lobe 44 will roll to aposition with the sides and in variance with the diameter for'which it was origcontacting the upper conical section 31 and the lower inally designed. V v a k inclined'side ,38. Throughout this movement, the diam- Following the principles employed in the present in eter D will vary; 'yet at the same time selective variation vention, howeve it has been found po'ssibleito eliminate of the ,diameterjD is possibleby controlling the relation the adverse fiflCiSfOf growth without atfectingthe other 35 ship between the angles .formed by the upper inclined desirable operating characteristics of the spring assembly, '5 sides with the opposite, lower inclined sides as the center I especially at'the neiutral or ridin'gj height position; 'I his ingipostan'd' diaphragm move in compression and re -,1: is accomplished, in general, by'constructingand arrang bound. 'Again, predetermined va'riations'inthe diameter ing the lower inclined. side 31" and-outwardly flaredsec- Dmay be predicted notwithstanding'variations in growth.

vtion 38 so as to control the radial movementigf the rnid- 4 of thediaphragrn. I

point M notwithstanding aleng'theningtof'ftheidia pi ':;Moreov'er, theprinciplesfemployed in the present -in-; 'P 8 since lo e 0r'-1'01l isfgiven either "a-genvention to eliminate the eifectsv of growth and to enable' erally circular, or a U-shaped configuratiorii jin either controlling th'e eflective areaofa single spring assembly,

; form it isto be noted that' theradial-movementjof:the": can' beof' irnn'lenseinflportance'in controlling the'leve'ling midpoint M will b? Q P P dbY Q, n l action between apair-of spring assemblies mounted on movement d changes in p t f h id h either sidej of an axle assembly. As an example, by a $1 1t 15 Y h t h m i mr q i enabling-- one to predict the eifective area of a spring sldfs be controlled order 'Q F Y Pi 11 f f assembly throughout its operating life, a pairiofspri'ng pomt For thls "purposg h 1: 1 assemblies may becontrolled in leveling by a single leveland f P r flared 9 F m 1n, d fl-5O 'i'ng valve, and nevertheless :attain consistency and re- 99 ow b l fi n asl er liability in operationmerely by disposing the inclined- -38 and 31 are in add tion given a lengthso that at any T sidesa equalianglesxfic 1 i a e, v e vq n, f centervmg Post; wlth i i .;3' While there has been shownla'preferredform, of the] 9*," f P Q an fi r l ll the s1de$ '"inventionait isto. be understood'fthat various changes 1 W111 operate Q,-9 fl 9 may 'begmadefin its construct-brand the relative parts a a a g f l fi BW 9 ?l{9 h P-P$'' fusedin, its constructionwithout-departing from the spirit, J 1 the Sides each qr s g tm :l l and scopeof'the invention'as defined in the appended the system. Forexample, inthe 'normaleridin'g height 1- v I, V

positiomas shown in--full1;in Figure"2, notwithstanding' 1 *any -growth,particularly of I ellobe portion ofithe fdial-25A pneumatic springiassembly for use in a 'vehicle 1 rh smr b W be or leng h q l along suspension-unitlcornprisingt a container connected 'to'the.

either sidej of outwardly flaring section .S'S -Vand lower, frame of said vehicle including an open end portion and conicalsection l' smthatI'the; midpoint-, M grnay more includinjg means for pressurizing said container; '5a"pistonf, i ember' having,alterrninalfend portion arranged for? iproca movement throughI-thejopen iend@of said con navin fquterfand inner ions and: an enlarged, generally, U-shaped lo eloo'sel 'conne mg said; relatively} near 'end portions, said "con ainerQhaVing a skirt-sloping first inwardlyy from the side of. said; container ,for snuglyf engaging said outerw all, hen, flaring outwardly for normally contacting on side a of 'said l'obe 'adjacenttotthe areafof connection f said 38 are shown 'extendingpn a straightrline, .thejyimay also be curved-or generaljof 'anyconfig'hraitidn sof longi as they are disposed atan-angleand a length the movementofthe midpointM;Fv i

r lobevwith saidouter; wall; said-outer and inner circumdirectionaway from engagement with the side of said ll) container and said terminal portions, respectively.

2. A pneumatic spring assembly according to claim 1 wherein saidthickened end portions include a plurality of teeth for engaging the side of said container and said terminal portion, and said resilient spring is defined by a continuous cable wrap imbedded in each of said thickened end portions. 7

, 8 Y References Cited in the file Of this patent, 3 l a UNITED STATESBATENTS Bell 1,503,985 Corson Aug 5,"'1924 1,813,176 Leguillon V uly 7, 193-1 FOREIGN PATENTS 13,713 Great Britain of 1898 1,141,285 France Mar. 11, 1957 (Corresponding to British Patent Continental 788,973, Jan. 8, 1958) OTHER REFERENCES General Motors Engineering J ournal, volume 4, July- 15 August-September 1957 (pages 21- 27 relied on).

Germany (Kl. 63c 41 Ser. No. 24679; printed Oct. 31, 1956. i w v 

